Hopper-car structure



2 Sheets-Sheet l W. M. SHEEHAN HOPPER CAR STRUCTURE Filed Dec 19, 1925 May 17 1927.

[2: vezuar W/L LIAM M SHEEHAN M w 9 men:

Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO COMMONWEALI'II STEEL COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HOPPER-CAB STRUCTURE.

Application filed December 19, 1925. Serial No. 76,479.

an economical rigid structure, preferably consistingsubstantially of a one-picce casting provided withmtcgral extensions and flanges for performing various functionshcretofore fulfilled by separate pieces applied to the car framing or fullilled by a more cumbersome or inconvenient structure.

More specifically I desire to eliminate the heavy andv unnecessary corners of the underframe of a car of the type referred to, such as the corners shown in my copending appl cation Serial No. 576,527 filed July- 21. 1922; to provide for the attachment of end posts direct to the striking plate of the uuderframe; to provide for truck bearings extending beyond the body of the under frame; and to properly brace these hearings from thebody and to adapt them for the mounting of superstructure posts, and to receive and take care of lifting stresses produced by application of jacks or slings at their extensions. I also desire to adapt an under-frame of the type referred to for the application of brake levers or similar mechanism without the necessity of attaching separate brackets, etc, to provide for the direct application of dumping doors to the car sillswith accuracy and without the necessity of extensive machine-work on the sills and to similarly apply floor supporting brackets to the under-frame with accuracy and without extensive machine-work.

I also desire to brace the end floors of the hopper car by means of suitably disposed flanges onthe underframe.

Various other detailed objects of my invention will appear in the description below. I i i In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of my invention- Figure 1 is a top view of my improved in'iderframe. I i V Figure '2 is a side elevat on of the same.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figures l and are vertical transverse sections on line JP-4t and 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an end view of one-half of the structure. i p f Figure? is a detail vertical'section on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figures 8 and 9 are transverse sections on line 8-8 and 9+9 of Figure 1, Figure 9 showing the dumping doors applied to the underframe.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section on line 10-1O of Figure 6. f

Figure ll is a horizontal section taken on line 11-41. of Figure 6.

The main portion of the structure shown consists of side sills 1, draft sills 2, and diagonal sills The sidesills terminate a substantial distance flOlIl the end of the car and near their ends are connected to each other by straight transverse members 4 extending between the lower portions o f'the side sills and by arcuate members 5 extending between the upper portions of the side sills and forming with the upper portionsof the draft sills 2 and diagonal sills 3 and I other connecting elements to be referred to later a substantially horizontal platformforming portion of the underframe.

Extending outwardly from the diagonal sills 3 are brackets 6, the lower portions of which are provided with bearings 7 which are adapted to rest upon the side frames of the type of truck illustrated in Patent No. 995,560, issued June 20, 19 11 to H. M. Pflager and more particularly described and claimed in the copending Pflager application Serial Number 34,706 filed June 3, 1925. The outer ends of these brackets are braced from the ends of the side sills 1 by connections 8. and brackets 6 and connections 8 terminate in a face provided for the attachment of the'car corner posts 9.

The outer. ends of brackets 6 and connections 8 are provided with a flat undersurface 10 to receive a jack or block whereby the car may be lifted. The lower face of connection 8 is recessed as indicated at 11 (Figure 2) to provide a notch for engaging chains or slingsfwhe'reby the car may be raised. Adjacent jacking surfaces 10 and recesses 11, the frame is [provided with bossesfSI and 32to which superstructure posts 9 andpost brackets 33 and operating mechanism (not shown) may be attached,

respectively, and the lifting forces will be applied at points best adapted to receive and transmit the resulting stresses.

A portion of the load on each diagonal sill 3 i's'transfeired to'the draft sill by transverse members 12 which are ositioned approximately midway of the ends of the diagonal sills. It will be noted that one of these members 12 is bifurcated to provide a space 13 into which the operating gear wheel 14 of the, door dumping mechanism may. project. The arrangement, l1oivever.is such that theisame degree of load stresses may be transferred by the bifurcated member 12 as by the other members 12..

A connection 1 2 extends between the draft sills 2 at the point ,where' members 12 con n-e'ct with th'e dr a ft sills. The lower; portionof connection 12?.inc1udes a horizontal section. 12 with upturned flanges, 12 and 12 at front and rear, respectively. Frontfiange 12 is curved rearwardly to accommodate the inner end of the draft gemwhich may be applied to the underframe. I

A BracketsG, member 12 and connection 12 form a bolster-like member entend'ing roiighly in an are between the bearings 7 where the ufulerfninici is pivoted to its tinck, thereby providing a continuous member hav ing an upper compression element and a lower tension element, extending transversely of the under-frame, but adapting; the underframeto have its} rriieks located nearer to the end. of thennderfran'ie than would be the case with the ordinary bolster or. any straight transverse member sn'chas shoiwn in my copending under rame. application Serial Number 77 ,928, filed December 28, 2 i

.The novel features included in th'e side sill structure are the provision of bosses or pads havingf finished silr fa'ce's for the application of door hinge elements and inclined side floor supporting brackets. As indicated in Figure 9 each side sill comprises avertieal angels and inward y extending horizonta'lfiang s' 5 and it at the repairs b 'ttoln, respectively, p of said vertical flange, will be noted that the upper flange 15 extends inwardly fi' oni the side of the car a greater'distancc thanthe ,loyvei' fian e and ispreferably provided with depending; rib 17 at its inner end.

intervals along flange 15 and projelctiiie frtini its i1ppei and lower si i'rfa 'c'e's are hosses18, each ha ing-1' restricted lower face adapted to be 'niachined to which ar 657;; bolts-19forining art of the dtJOl hinge may be applied. The nuts for these eye bolt are seated ripum the opbesiae upper boss faces niea tif thisarrange ment th'e'door's .I'nay be 1i ged direetly to a ide sills audi s ma he, dare ears-a Iniicpinin illl along the sill. The shape of the Si e sill issuer that the'aligne'd faces of all the bosses on each sill may be maehined in a single operation and the door may be applied or removed from beneath the sill as desired and at the same time the door se'acuri'ng nuts 20 may be applied and removed from their respective eye bolts 15.) from above. This greatly facilitates assembly and disassembly of the ca door and underframe,

Along the enter face of the side sill vertical flange 11, are pads 21 which project from the body of thesill and may be machined to have applied thereto the brackets These brackets which are more clearly detailed and described in my copending application, Serial Number (37,828, filed Nove1nher 9, 1925, support the inclined side floors of the hopper from the side as well as the top of the side sill.

7 As indicated. in Figures 1 and 5 the platform forming portion of the underframe is provided with downwardly depending arms 23, preferably formed integrally with the platform and at their lower ends provided with integral fulcru'ms for inclined brake levers or other similaroperating mechanism. The adjacent draft sill 2 is recessed to accommodate mechanism projecting through and arms 23 provide means for mounting. levers abreast of the transvers opening in draft sill 2. Each of the draft sills has a lower horizontal flange 24 (Figure 5) and at the inner ends of the draft sills these flanges 24 merge into a transverse flange 25 which forms a reinforcement for the'lower end of the hopper end floor and extends across the latter to the side sills 1.

The draft sills 2 extend a short distance beyond the point where diagonal sills 3 merge with the draft sills, thus providing an integral striking plate having parallel thercside faces 26 to which the cnd'posts 27 may I The flanges of member 28 are deepest intermediate their ends I for additionalv strength.

The rear flange. of plate 29 is cut away near each end as indicated at 30 in Figure 11 'and thereby provides a notch adapted to receive the forward end of the coupler yoke This permits greater travel of the yoke and coupler than Would. be possible otherwise unless the draft sill were lengthened.

The front faces of the draft sills are provided with openingsflt through which riveting tools or wrenches may be inserted to drive rivets or hold boltsconnecting the sides of the draft sill and end'posts 27. The lower flange of the side sills have openings 35 and 35" to permit access totho inner face ofthe sill. liehiiul pads 31 and 21 for a similar purpose.

Obviously, many of the details of my invention might be varied Without departing from the spirit thereof and I contemplate all such modifications as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: i

1. In a car underframe,a horizontal portion, a vertical sill beneath said portion and provided with a transverse opening for brake or similar mechanism, and elements formed integrallywith saidhorizontal portion depending therefrom to provide mechanism mountings abreast of said openings.

2. In a car underframe, draft sills extending to theend of the under-frame, side sills, diagonal sills connecting said side sills with points on said draft sills spaced from the outer ends of the latter, said draft sill ends having surfaces for the attachment of end posts in front of said diagonal sills.

In a car framing, a striking plate, side sills, diagonal sills extending inwardly and longitudinally of the underframe from the ends of said side sills to the end of the un derframe at a point spaced from the face of said striking plate, and an. end post connected to the side of the striking. plate in front of the end of saiddiagonal sill.

4. In a car underframe, side sills, diagonal sills extending inwardly and longitudinally of the underframe from the ends of said'side sills, and truck bearing supporting brackets extending outwardly from said diagonal sills.

5. In a car nnderframe, side sills diagonal sills extending inwardly and longitudinally of the underframe from the ends of said side sills, and truck bearing supporting brackets extending outwardly from said diagonal. sills and connected to the ends of said side sills independently of said diagonal sills. j

6. In acar'underframe, draft sills, side sills, diagonal sills connecting the forward portion of said draft sills to said side sills, and truck bearing brackets extending outwardly from said diagonal sills and toward the outer end of the nnderframe.

7. In a one-piece casting comprising a car nnderframe, draft sills, side sills, diagonal sills connecting said sills, and members extending outwardly from said diagonal sills and carrying truck bearing engaging elements.

8. In a car underframe, draft sills. side sills, diagonal sills connecting said draft and side sills,.and brackets on said diagonal sills sills, brackets extending outwardly from said diagonal sills to the side of lLl16 Ct1,2lI1l corner posts connected to said brackets vand extending upwardly therefrom.

11. In a one-piece casting comprising a car underframe, draft sills, side sills, diagonal sills connecting said sills, members extending outwardy from said diagonal members and carryingtruck bearing elements. and braces extending from the ends of said side sills and connecting with the outer ends of said members 7 c 12. Inacare underframe, a side sill, a diagonal sill extending inwardly from said side sill toward the end of the car, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill, an element extending longitudinally from the end 'of'said side sill, said element and bracket uniting to form a support and a brace for a car corner post.

.13. In a car underframe, a side sill. a diagonal sill extending inwardly from the end ofsaid side sill, a brace extending outwardly from the end of said side sill and adapted to support a body corner post at its outer end, a depending flange along said brace, and a lug on said flange near the outer end thereof for positioning a chain hook or sling for raising the underframe.

14. In car underframe, a side sill, adiagonal sill extending inwardly from the end of said side sill toward the car end, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill and. provided with a bearing for the car truck, and a projection beyond said bearing including a jacking surface.

15. In a hopper car, a side sill, a diagonal sill extending inwardly from the end of said side sill toward the car end, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill and provided with a bearing for the car truck, a projection beyond said bearing including a jacking surface, and a corner post having itslower end secured to said projection. V a

16, In an underframe for a dumping car, a draft sill,.a diagonal sill, a bearing for the car truck carried by said diagonal sill, and a member for transferring a portion of the load onsaid bearing and diagonal sill to said draft sill, said member being bifurcated to. accommodate dumping mechanism below the top of said underframe.

17; In an underfi'ame fol-cars with dump.- in doors, a sill, pads at intervals along said sil projecting beyond the body of said sill, each affording a restricted individual mounting surface for a door hinge element.

18; A' one-piece casting comprising an under-frame for cars with dumping doors, said casting including a sill adjacent to the door opening, and bosses at intervals along said sill; and prt'ijecting therefrom and having machined surfaces in a common plane.

19. I11 an under-framed casting for cars with dumping "doors, a member having a vertical web and laterally extending horizontal flanges, the upper ofwhich flanges is wider than the lower, and integral bosses along the lower face of said upper flange within the edge of said lower flange for at tacliment with door hinge elements appli cable and removable from below said sill- 20. In a hopper car under-frame, a side sill with a flange, elements on one side of said fla'nge for seating door hinge members, and elements on the other sideof said flange for seating-retaining devices for said hinge members. I i

21. In a hopper car underframe,'side sills, pads projecting beyonr'l the outer faces of said sills at intervals for the application of members for supporting a hopper side floor,

' 22. 111 a onepiece casting forming ahOpper car underframe, a side sill, and bosses of I restricted area at intervals. along the outer face of said sill and projecting therefrom and having machined surfaces for the application of floor supportingbrackets.

23. Ina hopper car', draft sills, lower flanges thereon, an inclined floor extending below said draft sills, said. flanges extending along the rear face of. said floor torei'nfor'c'e the same. I

24. A one-piece casting comprising a hopper car underframe, and including flanged draft sills, and supports for the lower ends of the hopper end floor,tl 1efianges on said draft sills being continued transversely of the car alon' said supports.

25. Acne-piece casting comprising ahopper car underframeand including side sills, flanged draft sills and supports for the lower ends of the hopper end floors, the

flanges on said draft sills being continued transversely of the car' along said supports to said side sills.

26. In a car underframe,draft sills, an integral striking plate and an integralcoupler carrier extending transversely of said sills and which is channelshape in cross section with its coupler supporting web horizontal andflanges depending.

27. In a car underframe, draft sills, an integral striking plate and an integral coupler carrier extending transversely of said sills and which is channel-shape in cross section with its coupler supporting web horizont'al and-flanges depending therefrom, and aremoval channel-shaped wear plate fitting over said carrier.

28. In acar underframe, an integral strik- 111g plate with an integral coupler carrier which is channel-shape in cross section with its web horizontal and its flanges depending and deepest intermediate their ends.

29. In a car under-frame, an integral striking plate with an integral coupler carrier which is channel-shape in cross section with its web horizontal and flanges depending, and a removable channel-shaped wear plate fitting oversaid carrier, said wear plate having the, ends of its inner flanges cut away to accommodate forward movement of a draft yoke for a coupler resting on said wear plate. 30. In a 'car underframe, a side sill, adiagonal sillextendi'ng inwardly from the end of said side sill toward the car end, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill and provided with a bearing for the car truck, and aprojection beyond said bearing including a jacking surface, and adjacent pads for attaching superstructure posts.

31. In a car underframe, a side sill, a diagonal sill extending inwardly from the end of said side sill toward the car end, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill and provided with a bearing for the car truck, a projection beyond said bearing including a jacking surface, and adjacent pads for attaching operating mechanism.

In a car underframe, draft sills projecting'at the end of the car and each forming a hollow portion with a side face for attaching a superstructurepost, the end face of said portion being provided with an opening to permit access to the inner side of said face to facilitate assembly of a post therewith.

33. In a car underframe, a cast sill member forming a box-like section with an exterior pad for posts or the like, the lower face of said portion being provided with an opening to permit access to the interior of said portion to permit insertion of tools for facilitating assembly of elements with said Sill.

.34. Ina car, underframe, bearings near the "sides of the underfraine for supporting the same on corresponding truck bearings, and a member extending between said bearings inwardly and rearwardly thereof across the underfranie to accommodate draft rigging elements projecting to the rear of a straight line between said bearings.

In acar underframe, bearings near the sides of the underframe for supporting the same on corresponding truck bearings.

and a member extending between said bearings inwardly and rearwardly thereof across the underframe to accommodate draft rigging elements projecting to the rear of a straight line between said bearings, said member including a continuous lower tension element with its forward portion recessed for accommodating the rear end of a coupler yoke;

36. In a car underframe, truck engaging bearings near the sides of said underframe, and a bolster-like member between said bearings with its middle portion farther from the end of the car than its ends.

37. In a car underframe, draft sills, diagonal sills extending outwardly and rearwardly from the forward portion of said draft sills, a IDCITll'JOl' spaced from the end of the car and inclined forwardly and outwurdly from the car center and extending across said draft sills and diagonal sills between the respective ends of each of said sills.

38. In a car underframe, draft sills, diagonal sills extending outwardly and rearwardly from the forward portion of said draft sills, a member spaced from the end of the car and inclined forwardly and outwardly from the car center and traversing said draft sills and diagonal sills and ex tending beyond the latter to provide truck engaging bearings.

39. In an underframe casting for railway cars with dumping doors, a sill member hav ing a vertical. web and an upper horizontal flange extending inwardly and a lower hori zontal flange, said upper flange having integral bosses on its lower face located be yond any portion of said lower flange to permit vertical application of door hinge elements thereto.

40. In a one-piece casting comprisinga car underframe, draft sills, side sills, diagonal sills connecting said sills, and members extending outwardly from said diagonal sills and forming elements for engaging a bearing on a car truck,

41. In a car underframe, draft sills, side sills, diagonal sills connecting said draft and side sills, and brackets on said diagonal sills extending outwardly therefrom and forming elements for engaging bearing elements on a car truck.

42. In a car underframe, side sills, diagonal sills extending inwardly and longitudinally of the underframe from the ends of said side sills, and brackets extending outwardly from said diagonal sills to the side of the car and adapted to carry post supporting elements.

-13. In a car under-frame, a side sill, a dia onal sill extending inwardly from said side sill toward the end of the car, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill, an element extending longitudinally from the end of said side sill, said element and bracket uniting to form a support, and a brace for car superstructure.

441. In a hopper car, a side sill, a diagonal sill extending inwardly from the end of said side sill toward the car end, a bracket extending outwardly from said diagonal sill and provided with a bearing for the car truck, a projection beyond said bearil'ig in cluding a jacking surface, and car superstructure secured to said projection.

l5. In a car underframe, draft sills, diagonal sills extending outwardly and real wardly from the forward portion of said draft sills, a member spaced from the end of the car and inclined forwardly and outwardly from the car center and traversing said draft sills and diagonal sills and extending beyond the latter to provide truck engaging bearings, and car superstructure supports. 4

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this lt day of November, 1925.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN. 

